How to Look After Your Van

How to Look After Your Van

Preventive maintenance is the most important thing you can do keep your van in proper working order and potentially save you money in the future. Carrying out these few simple procedures on a regular basis will ensure that your van is running in optimal condition.

Firstly, start under the hood. Checking the brake fluid level is a simple but very important step in van maintenance. Brake fluid plays a crucial role in your van’s braking system. Keeping the fluid reservoir full will prevent brake failure and possibly even an accident.

Routinely checking the washer fluid reservoir is also a simple yet essential step in looking after your van. Neglecting the washer fluid can result in zero visibility, causing a dangerous and stressful situation.

Keeping water/coolant levels topped up is vital to your van’s engine to prevent overheating, or water freezing in the engine, resulting in expensive repairs.

Check the oil in between scheduled oil changes. Your van’s engine requires constant lubrication, and oil also has cleaning properties which help to reduce the dirt that clogs the engine openings. Low oil levels can cause extensive damage and tremendous repair bills.

Lastly, tyre maintenance is key in regards to safety and economy. Under-inflated tyres can result in overheating, and over-inflated tyres cause poor handling on the roads. Tyre pressure ought to be carefully monitored to prevent dangerous situations. If need be, pressure should be adjusted in accordance with the van’s current load.

In addition to preventing unsafe scenarios on the motorways, regular checks of tyre pressures keep the treads from wearing too quickly or unevenly. Another reason to perform regular inspections of tyre treads is the fact that illegal treads can result in a fine, as well as three penalty points, which may mean an increase in commercial insurance payments.

Correct tyre pressures can equate to lower CO2 emissions coming from your van than those with incorrect tyre pressures thus reducing the environmental impact of your vehicle. Maintaining good tyre pressure could even save a bit of money at the petrol station.

Staying on top of these simple but essential maintenance routines can save you money, and keep your van running smoothly, and make it a safer place to be.